December 31st--Celebrating with pudding, a balloon drop, and a sunset

The first thing we did was to say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa. No one was happy about that, but we look forward to seeing them again in 2008.

Anders was feeling a bit better--enough that he wanted to make pudding with some of his new cooking kit supplies.



Mmmmmm. Pudding.


Then we went to Chabot Space and Science Center for the second year in a row, for the balloon drop celebration at the GMT New Year. First we had time to see a Planetarium show and to enjoy the exhibits, including getting to take a trip to the Moon.



OK, they really didn't go to the moon. We really couldn't even get a good picture, because Erik didn't quite get the timing of the jump. We had fun, though!

At a few minutes before 4pm, we gathered below the balloons. It was soon clear that the big balloon drop area was a bit too overwhelming for Anders. It was designed for kids 6 and up, but we wanted to stay together. I gathered him up and went to the small room for the smaller kids, where he was still reserved, but much happier.





Interestingly, they dropped the balloons for the little kids about 4 minutes early, so we did get to watch (from the outside of the ring) the big drop as well.

Here's Erik looking up


at the balloons


almost ready to drop


After the drop, the kids are supposed to step on their balloon, pop it, grab the little slip of paper that was inside, and exchange it for a prize. Anders got freeze-dried ice cream, which he was very excited about until he realized it wasn't cold. No amount of coaxing could get him to even sample it. Erik got stickers, which he loved, and we managed to turn up an extra balloon, getting a pencil for Anders instead.

On the way home we stopped for some cold ice cream as a special New Year's Eve treat for Anders (Erik had soy ice cream in the freezer at home already). We had a quick dinner and had the privilege of watching the most spectacular sunset of 2007 while we had our ice cream celebration.



I was going to leave with a video of the balloon drop, but after waiting for 30 minutes for it to upload, I decided it just isn't that exciting.

December 30th--Sick Anders

Sunday, and finally I was feeling much better. Anders, however, was at the height of his round with the sickness. Poor boy, he was sick and I still took his picture.





You have to admit, though, that he is absolutely adorable, even when he's sick.

December 29th--painting

One of the gifts the boys got in their stocking was a new set of paints. When Erik "opened" his stocking, he dumped everything out and zoned in on one particular gift (slime). It took him until today to notice the paints. When he did, he immediately wanted to make a picture.



(and just in case you were wondering, our stocking gifts come from me, not from Santa.)

December 28th--Gingerbread Houses

Our second-annual gingerbread house decorating day was a hit with the boys. Through a judgment error on my part, the frosting wasn't very tasty (Earth Balance sticks don't make the best tasting frosting), which was wonderful for those of us who didn't want to eat it but would never be able to resist otherwise. But it didn't stop the boys, and they had a great time.

Grandma was again an expert at making the walls and roof the right sizes. We thought ahead this year, too, and made templates for next year. Anders was ready first, and his went together very well; he was soon adding candy. That is, when he wasn't eating candy!





(note the anticipatory tongue in this picture!)






He was very detail-oriented and really enjoyed decorating.

Last year, Erik was very into the specifics of the decorating. This year, he was most interested in squeezing out the frosting to assemble the house.









His house actually collapsed shortly after he completed it, due to faulty architecture. No matter to him--we didn't get a picture of it completed, but he still got to eat it, piece by piece!

December 27th--Hungry Hungry Hippos

I remember very little from this day, since I was very sick. I do know that I was thankful my parents were there, because I didn't have to do very much--always a treat for a sick mom. The boys loved playing Hungry Hungry Hippos with Grandma.

December 26th--It's still Christmas!

Grandma Barb and Grandpa Rick spent most of their Christmas in the airport, waiting for a flight out. The first two flights (they were flying standby with companion fares) ended up full, and the third (and last) flight was delayed by 2 hours. They made it on the plane, however, and I picked them up from the airport at 12:30am. Grandma was able to get a good night's sleep, but Grandpa and I depended on some coffee to make it through the day.

The boys were excited to see them, and excited to open their presents, too. Anders had been asking for a particular present ever since Grandma was here in November. We shopped together for Erik's birthday, and Anders saw the Rescue Helicopter in the Lego City line. I don't think a day has passed since where he hasn't mentioned it at least once.







Anders helped Grandpa help him put it together



For a little while at least--before long Grandpa was working on his own



The finished project was indeed a hit with Anders


It even went outside with him


(note as well the wonderful new coat from the Snyders and Aunt Anita)

Erik had asked Grandma for a Leapster cartridge in November, and had also been eagerly awaiting that gift.



Isn't that the face of one excited boy?

December 25th--Merry Christmas!

We started the morning by reading the Christmas story.





After opening a few presents


we put the batteries in the GeoTrax remote control train. Anders had opened it yesterday, but we were still charging the batteries!




After taking that picture, Erik was treated to a Christmas morning haircut, just what every little boy wants for Christmas. He protested some, but made it through my mad hackings and obtained a cute cut.

After a relaxing morning at home, we drove over to Gramma and Grampa's house. The gifts descended quickly at the beginning, and I didn't get very many pictures. After the wrapping paper cleared, though, we had a few moments to capture a few favorites--Anders and Carl playing with a new top from Chris and Cheryl



And Erik (notice the haircut!) building with the elephant stacking game



Carl, the boys, Auntie Vern, and Uncle Jay then walked to the park for HyperDash, hide-and-seek, and football. While they were gone, the rest of us (Aunt Anita, Gramma, and me) sat down and relaxed, thanks to the smörgåsbord being mostly prepared already.



After a wonderful lunch, the boys watched a video while the rest of us again relaxed. There were more gifts


and then our family headed home with tired kids. Erik fell asleep (at 4:15!) on the way home. After dinner and a little playing, both boys went off to bed.

December 24th--presents and cookies

We started opening a few gifts on Christmas Eve, so as to spread out the fun. They had fun waiting throughout the day for that next moment when we deemed it OK to open another gift. Erik was able to avoid opening any clothing packages (while necessary and loved by his mother, they aren't his favorite choice), and especially enjoyed the game for both boys, HyperDash. If you can get your hands on it, do so. It is amazingly fun. It says for ages 6-12, but Anders loves it, too. He can do Level 1 with no help, and we call out instructions to him on any of the other levels. I'm sure he'll be a pro in no time.

Anders loved his box of treasures from Becca and Julius, including a favorite, a growing toy. This one is a frog which is now bigger than any frog should ever be, in one of my mixing bowls in the kitchen.



The boys and I made up the cookies from the gingersnaps dough in the fridge. Of course, there was a bit of sampling going on...





(Yes, Anders is eating just the sugar at this point. He asked me if he ate all of the sugar in his bowl if I would give him more. I took the bowl away before that became an option!)

December 23rd--Some Christmas pictures

As we were in our holiday finery today, I got some pictures of the kids before church.













And I know this picture is incredibly out of focus. But it still conveys a bit of the connection between Erik and CeeCee, since the in-focus pictures are too identifying.